Whether you are presenting an informal update to your team, trying to convince the board to buy into your expensive project, or walking out into the spotlights on the stage at a large conference – there is one mistake it is very easy to make as a speaker. Because the spotlight (real or metaphorical) is shining on the presenter, it would be easy to think that the speaker is the important one in the room. It would be easy, but it would also be wrong.

Every time we stand up and speak, we are selling something. A product, a service, and idea or ourselves. Before you start writing any talk, answer these two questions: What is it you are selling? And: What action do you want your audience to take? In other words- start with the end in mind.

Glossophobia is the fear of speaking in public. 75% of people will experience this at some point in their lives. If the thought of standing up and speaking fills you with dread, take heart! You are not alone and you can overcome the feelings for more easily than you think.

You only have a few seconds to grab your audience’s attention when you stand up and speak. During those few seconds you have to fight their desire to take out their phone and their day dreams about dinner or worries about work. So make those few seconds count – say something that will grab their attention and let them know that you are going to inform, educate and entertain them if they keep on listening.

Today, however, Craig said he would be jumping in a helicopter at the end of the drive time show in order to fly down to Falmouth in order to DJ a party that night on the quayside. That’s fun, I thought, perhaps we will bump into him…